Laying our burdens at God's feet

The last few days I had been really struggling.  The boogeyman, so to speak, had come to get me.  I was filled with doubt and anxiety.  When I feel this way I see myself as unloved and unlovable.  Somehow so wrong that No one could love me and anyone who cared for me must have something wrong with them.  I get this way from time to time,  but infrequently now.  Before I came to God I lived this way.  I doubted myself and those around me.  I was too scared to lift up my head.

But one day, unexpectedly, I enter St Peters in Rome to see the art and instead God spoke to me in heart and let me know He loved me.  I trembled and cried.  I actually had to back to the hotel and lay down.  At first I didn't believe that He could love me.  I thought He wanted me and if I was good enough, He might love me.  Now I know He loves me, but I forget sometimes when I get caught up in myself.

This morning before Morning Prayer, I offered my Beloved my gift.  He asked us to share our burdens with Him, so I layer it at His feet.  Immediately I felt lighter but I knew there was more to come.  He had something for me.  In my prayer He reminded me that because He loved me, I was lovable and that those who love me are not wrong because He loves me. I didn't hear this but I felt it in my heart.  God can speak to you if you will listen.  He talks to us all the time but we don't take the time to learn to listen. He reminded me that I am safe in His arms and because of that I can go out into the world.  I may get hurt but He will be there to help me carry my burden.

The God of the universe loves you.  He loves you and wants what is best for you, He wants you to be with Him for all eternity.  Even if you have turned away from Him, He is standing there waiting for you.  If turn and go back to Him, he will run out to meet you.  If you have any burdens he will help you carry them.  In fact be like a little child.  Hold your arms out and He will lift you up and carry you in His arms.

Being openly Christian

I am often amazed at how often someone who thinks themselves open minded calls me names because I am openly Christian.  It really makes me happy to be able to suffer in such a minor way for Christ.  Many people would at this point start to talk about how awful those people are but I won't.  They are a reminder to me that we should be better mirrors of the Love of God and how far I fall short.   I am so grateful to have someone else to pray for.  I truly wish them love and joy.  Those things come from God and we all need more love in our lives.  I thank them for reminding me that they are watching us and we need to be good examples of true Christian love.  I have to learn to love them better.  The better I can love, the better an example I can be to my fellow Christians too.  Unfortunately, as I am often reminded I fall short of truly loving all my fellow man.  I am a human being and i make mistakes, luckily God still loves me.  I wish God would give the gift of knowing what each one needs to be healed of whatever hurts them in their lives.  I would wish to someday know that love for us that drove Him to sacrifice Himself for us and to have that love for each person.  I wish I could give them the gift of seeing Gods love.  In the meantime I can still pray for them, for them to know infinite Love and Joy.